Posts: 16

Topic: Chemo after surgery

FYI -

I've been doing a lot of reading a lot of medical reports and reasearch on line, and it looks like chemotherapy should be done after surgery to increase the odds of survival. If I had a resection, I would definitely ask my doctor for chemo just to make sure that we kill as much of those stray cells as possible.

Re: Chemo after surgery

Again there are so many pros and cons. Probably if we put 10 doctors in a room we would have 50 opinions! I still believe it depends on where the cancer is and the prognosis and the age of the patient. While we are all pretty much fending for ourselves until more research is done on CC its a hunt and peck game...not fair but sometimes we need to listen to our gut feelings and hearts.

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME! Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: Chemo after surgery

Lisa....you are making a good point and that is to inform yourself and then based on the knowledge gained, make the decisions in re: to the treatment protocols. I remember a conversation with a highly respected oncologist who mentioned: "One out of six people will respond favorably to chemotherapy. We just don't know who that person is". Lainy brings up a good point by mentioning that even the experts seem to be in disagreement when it comes to the subject of chemotherapy for the treatment of bile duct cancer. On this board we have seen both favorable, and negative results.

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

Re: Chemo after surgery

Hi Marion, funny you said that about the Oncologist as on our first visit to our new "aggressive" ONC he said just that, last week. He said 1 in 5 will get help from chemo but who knows who that will be. But it could be you. I have been wanting to write you about the March meeting here in Phoenix. Can you give me the dates on that and where it will be? I am interested in "working" the booth.

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME! Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: Chemo after surgery

You're right, we don't know who will react favorably to chemo and who won't. Because of that, I would personally opt for chemo after resection. You don't know if you will be that one who will react well to chemo. And if you have bad reactions, you can always stop.

Re: Chemo after surgery

I would prefer to go with the statement of your oncologist: 1 in 5 favorable response to chemo.In re: to the March conference. Thanks for offering and yes, I am looking forward to your joining me. More details will follow within the next few weeks. Not sure about us being able to occupy a booth but, sure am crossing my fingers to be given another one of these great opportunities of allowing us to have more visibility at the conference. I was also thinking of having a get-together with whoever would like to meet while I am out there. In fact, I would like to meet some of our members wherever I am attending these conferences. I will post my attendance, city and time with the hope of connecting with someone from the board after conference hours. I can't wait.

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

Re: Chemo after surgery

OK! Count me in and Teddy said he would like to be there as a "survivor" if he can. You know, me and my shadow????

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME! Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: Chemo after surgery

Lainy....love to have you and your shadow attend the conference with me. I will do anything I can to make this happen and will keep you informed as time goes on. Thanks for your generous offer of representing this cancer for the foundation. I am really looking forward to this.

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

Re: Chemo after surgery

Lisa

I really wish that I had a clear answer to this myself! Having had no chemo after my resection in May, I do always wonder if I should have done so. And I still just don't know the answer. I too read all of the research I can find and I just don't find a clear answer to this. Many of the studies are based on very small numbers or aren't double blind or valid retrospective studies. Or they study too broad of range of subjects, making them not very applicable to any of them.

I think it all just points to the need for really good studies to be done on CC, involving multiple medical centers, and the studies then replicated. Of course, this involves a lot of money and I'm sure the drug companies don't think that the bottom line, involving so few patients, justifies their funding. And all of this means that we need fundraising to support this research.

For every person it really is a decision based on risk versus benefit, and that is certainly on many different levels. Suppressing the immune system, as when chemo is given, certainly doesn't come without risk.

I wish so much that I knew the answer to this! I know that I made the best decision for myself that I could at the time and don't honestly know if I would do differently if I had it to do over again. I just don't know!

A very good topic to bring up Lisa...it's something many of us have or will struggle with.

Re: Chemo after surgery

I had a resection and the doc team said no chemo because healing from a resection was plenty to deal with. I'm healed now, 1 1/2 years later, and another tumor has started. I will be scheduled for a RFA in December and chemo after. Doc said it was a pill and I won't lose my hair BUT I can't remember the name of the pill. Any answers on chemo pills would be grateful?

Re: Chemo after surgery

hey gale dont be afraid of lossing your hair, If the pill does the trick, its worth the loss of hair, you will still be the same wonderful person. My mum got told she had a good chance she would not lose her hair, but after the first round of chemo she did, Good part was she was also told it usually made people sick, she was lucky, no ill effects were felt.rhonda

Re: Chemo after surgery

Hi Gale...capecitabine (Xeloda) has been discussed frequently on this board. You might want to use the "search function" in order to read up on previous postings by other members. Also, Google has quite a few explainations. I think Gale, you might just want to call the physician in order to find out what exactly he had recommended. When then posting your questions others will be able to relate their experiences with you as everyone on here is the most helpful, understanding and supportive to all. Hugs to you and looking forward to your next posting.

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

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